Refrigerating apparatus.



L IATIoN FILED JAN.15. 1908.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

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REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 15, 1908. Serial No. 411,021.

To all 'whom 'it may concern: k

Be it known that I, FRANK L. BARKDOLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greencastle, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to a novel and improved refrigerating apparatus, one object of the invention being to provide an apparatus in which the suction and force ump for circulating the refrigerant may be riven by means primarily operated by a lwater motor receiving its 'power from an ordinary service system, whereby 'theap aratus ma be continuously and economically operate A further obj ect ofthe invention is to provide a simple, effective and inexpensive type of apparatus for domestic or commercial use in connection with ice boxes, soda fountains, etc., and which is also designed to utilize as the refrigerating agent, a combination or mixture of ethyl chlorid and olive oil, which is adapted to ra idly expand into vapor and may be liquefie 'ata low-pressure, thus enabllng a simple and cheap type of apparatus .the

to be employed. p t

A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide a refrigerating apparatus in which parts are drlven continuously by awater motor operating an air pump or compressor from which the'air is forced into areceivingv tankin vcommunication with a double acting air engine,'whi`ch engine operates the suction and force pump of the apparatus, whereby the vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn from the freezing coil and forced into a condenser an forced from the-latter into the `coil.

invention consists of the parts hereinafter .fully descrl and claimed, and shown in the accompanying` Referrin to the drawing, ldesignates a water supp y pipe, forming part of an ordi- .naizwater service system, om which exvh ten s a spout 2 having a controllin valve 3,

p the inlt 4 -of a 'water motor 5 havmg an. outletl 6. through 'which the spent Water is exhausted. AThe roj tary piston-,or wheelof the motoriscon-4 .which spout' is coupled to the liquefied refrigerant simultaneously partially in section of the nected by arod 7 to the piston 'of an air pump or compressor 8, from which the compressed air is forced into a receiving tank 9 having a pressure gage 10.

The air stored in the tank 9 is utilized to drive a double acting air engine comprising a cylinder 11 in which operates a piston 12, said cylinder being provided at each end with an inner inlet ort 13 and an outer eX- haust port 14, the inljet ports being in respective communication 15 and 16, which are in communicationwith the tank 9 through pipe 17 in which is a controlling `valve 18. l

The sets of ports 13 and 14 are controlled byv suppl and exhaust valves 19 and 20 fixed for simu tan'eous operation to a rod 21 arranged to slide through stuffing boxes in the respective valve chests 15 and 1'6 and provided with contact heads or tappets 22 and 23 for engagement by a rod 24 carried 'by the rod 25 of the piston 12 which extends eX- ternally .through one end of the cylinder 11, the said rod 24 having an apertured head 26 through which the rod 21 passes and which is adapted to engage said contacts 22 and 23. Itwill be obvious from the foregoing description of the construction of the valve mechanism that the piston 1-2 will be automatically operated in reverse directions by the alternate admission and exhaust of air to and from the opposite ends of thecylinder.

The .freezing coil 27 isin communication at one end the opposite ends of the ,cylinder `31 of a suction and force pump', in which cylinder operates-'a piston' 32 connected with the rod i 25,-whereby both pistons 12 and 32 will be With these and other objects in view, the features of con-g struction, combination and arranginent off simultaneously moved in the same direction.

The pi'pe 28 'has a suction valve for the exhaust of the .spent refrigerant vapor from the :coil 27, and the flow of vatpor therefrom through the branches 29 an into the pump cylinder 31 is 'controlled by vcheck valves 29 and 30 disposedn said branches,

I which permit of the'` inlet of the va or from' the suction pipe intofthe pum an.I prevent its return from',.,thep1 1mp to t e plpe; The

opposite eno `of the'coil 27 is in communica-4 tion with a condenser .33 havmg an Aoutlet- Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

with air chests or"boxes through 'a suction'pipe 28 with branch pipes 29 and 30'communicating'w1th 34 controlledjby afspring closed check'valve 35,which valve 1s normally 'held against-l pressure 'of the `liqluxd refr1gerant lin'l ,theA` `cpn'densei and is'adapte'd" to' .be

forced `open under pressure on the feed the direction of` flow of the va movement of the piston 32 to force a prescribed amount of the liquid refrigerant into the coil to take the place of the spent vapor withdrawn from the coil by the pump. The condenser is connected with a pipe 36 provided with branches 37 and 38 communicating with the opposite ends of the pump cylinder .'30, and having arranged thereln c eck valves 37 and 38 adapted to open in or from the pump to the condenser, 'thus a lowing such vapor to be forced through the pipe 36 to the condenser While preventing its return to the pump. z

As shown, the valve 35 comprises a casing depending from the condenser and in communication at its upper end with the outlet 34 and provided at its lower end with a head having discharge ports 35, the' underside of which head forms a seat for an upwardly movable disk valve 35", which is adapted to cover the openings 35.' The stem 35c of the valve is movable through a guide opening in the head and projects above the saine and is provided at its upper end with an enlargement, between which and the head is arranged a coiled sprin 35d, of proper strength to hold the valve c osed and permit it to open under variations of pressure in the condenser and refrigerator coil.. The casing is externally threaded to receive a cap provided in its bottom witha threaded opening'for the reception of the inlet end of thepipeforming therefrigerator coil, and also dprovided on its bottom portion with upwar ly-extending stop lugs or projections 35", operating to limit the opening movement of the valve, so that when the valve is fully open a space will be left between the same and the end of the pipe of the coil for the free extension of the refrigerant from Vthe condenser into said coil. The construction and arrangement of the parts of the valve, it will be apparent, is such las to permit of their ready assemblage as well as their convenient disassemblage for repairs when occasion requires.

In operation, the motor 5 works continuously, thus driving the air compressor 8 which su plies compressed air to the tank 9,

from whlch the air passes to the air engine,

, whose valve mechanism automatically controls the supply of air 'to Amove the piston 12 alternately in opposite directions and to thereby transfer corresponding motion to the piston 32 of the suction and force pump. The apparatus being, char ed with a required amount of the refri erant mixture or reagent, eth l chlorid an olive oil combined in suitab e proportions, and set in operation by opening the valves 3 and 18, it will be understood that the piston 32 will .be o erated by the automatic air engine. en said piston 32 moves to the left, the

`bined in suita frigerant will vaporize at a low temperaspent gases inthe coilI 37 will be drawn therefrom through the i 28 andfbranch 3() into the cylinder, w ie the vapor previously drawn in on the reverse motion of the piston will be forced through the branch 37 and pipe 36 to the condenser 33. When lthe piston 32 moves to the right, va or from the coll will be drawn into -the cy inder 31 through the branch 29, and the vapor taken up by its preceding movementA to the left discharged through the branch 28 and t pipe 36 to the condenser, in which latter, w ich will, be cooled by water in any ordinary way, the vapor will be reduced in temperature under pressure until it is liquefied. As stated, the discharge of the llquefied refri erant from the condenser 33 to the coil 27 1s normally presented by the check valve 35, but when a portion of the vapor is withdrawn from the coil by the pump and a portion forced by the pump into the condenser, under the increased pressure in the latter thel valve will open and allow a portlon o sus the liquid refrigerant to pass into the coil,

after which the valve will again close and will not again open until the condenser is increased by t e succeeding movement of the piston, whereby it will be apparent that a slmple and effective automatic means for supplying the coil with required portions of the liquid refrigerant at a time is afforded.

As stated, lthe refrigerant employed is preferably ethyl chlorid and olive oil, comle proportions. Such a reture and condense at a relatively high temperature and pressure, so that a very simple type of apparatus such as shown, may be employed as a re rigerant medium for ice boxes, household and store refrigerators, soda fountains and the like, lsince a powerful pump is not required to withdraw the gas from the coils and place it under high pressure for condensation, as in the ordinary ammonia ice machines. It will be understood that pressure of the vapor within the coil cooperates with the sprin of the valve to maintain such valve c ose against the head or pressure of the liquid refrigerant in the condenser, so that leakage will be prevented and a sensitive operation secured, the valve positively opening when the pressure in the condenser is increased by the feed of vapor thereto upon each movement of the piston. 32. f

Having thus full described *the invention, what is claime as new is In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a refrigeratingA coil, la condenser' plressure in the the condenser, means for driving the pump whereby the spent vapor will be Withdrawn from the coil and forced into the condenser for liquefaction, and a valve controlling the outlet connection between the condenser and the coil, said valve comprising a casing havin discharge ports communicating with said outlet, a valve controlling said ports and having an upwardly rojectin stem, a cap connected with the in et end 0 the coil and detachably connected with the casing, said cap being provided with stops to limit the downward movement of the valve, and a spring arranged to operate upon the stem of the valve vto hold sand valve closed under 15 FRANK L, BARKDOLL.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS S. DEEKENS, W. E. MCDONALD. 

